Dermatology Glossary

Hypertrichosis

Hypertrichosis is generally used to denote an increase in non-androgen dependent hair.
There are many types:

• congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa
  a rare generalization of lanugo hairs



• hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita
  see separate discussion



• nevoid hypertrichosis
  hypertrichosis in association with a smooth, muscle hamartoma, congenital nevus, Becker's nevus, or as a faun-tail associated with an underlying abnormality of the spine



• endocrine hypertrichosis
  secondary to hypo- or hyperthyroidism



• metabolic hypertrichosis
  secondary to porphyria, or malnutrition including that secondary to anorexia nervosa



• drug-induced hypertrichosis
  secondary to steroids, dilantin, minoxidil, diazoxide, cyclosporine, streptomycin, penicillamine, and others

Treatment:

• Diagnose and treat the underlying cause, if possible.
• Increased hair itself responds to shaving, cream depilatories, plucking and, for permanent clearing, electrolysis. This latter therapy is rarely practical in the face of generalized hypertrichosis.

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